no title

Short takes: Nubians rule the court once again

About our Editorials

Dispatch editorials express the view of the
Dispatch editorial board, which is made up of the publisher, the president of
The Dispatch, the editor and the editorial-writing staff. As is the traditional newspaper
practice, the editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the newspaper.
Comments and questions should be directed to the
editorial page editor.

Also in Opinion

Subscribe to The Dispatch

Already a subscriber?
Enroll in EZPay and get a free gift!
Enroll now.

Tuesday March 18, 2014 5:27 AM

Talk about living up to expectations: The girls’ basketball team at Columbus Africentric High
School — where the kids are told “Success is the only option” — won the Division III title on
Saturday, proving they are the best team in Ohio.

It was the Nubians’ fourth state championship since 2007, and the second for most of the team’s
six seniors.

The victory was bittersweet, as the young women took to the court for their final time as a
team.

“It’s going to be hard because we’ve been together so long, and now we’re going to college and
our separate ways,” player Darianne Seward predicted a few days before the game.

The team was anything but sentimental, however, in handing Versailles a 49-37 defeat before a
crowd of 4,071 in Value City Arena.

The preparation, discipline and heart that these girls displayed on the court also translated to
academic success. All the seniors are headed to college, with three getting full-ride basketball
scholarships: Seward at University of Detroit Mercy; Alexa Hart at Ohio State University; and
Alexis Parks at Western Michigan University.

The remaining seniors, Ayrielle Stith, Sierra Harley and Kyra Jones, are still deciding on
schools.

“It has been a magical year,” Nubians Coach Will McKinney said after his team won this year’s
championship.

Keeping the ladies focused, given the pressure they were under in the tournament, couldn’t have
been easy. But the coach said, “I made sure they had their eye on the prize.”

And not just their eyes: The Versailles Tigers just couldn’t seem to get in a shot against the
Nubians’ lethal defense.

The Nubians become only the eighth Ohio school to have won at least four state championships,
according to the Associated Press.

Congratulations to the entire Nubians championship team, along with the many parents, teachers
and coaches who shaped these accomplished young women.

Crew has helped to put Columbus on the map

Congratulations to the Columbus Crew soccer team for being named International Organization of
the Year by the Columbus Council on World Affairs. The Crew accepted the award last week at an
event at the Hyatt Regency Columbus.

The Crew joins such high-profile central Ohio companies as Cardinal Health, Battelle and Greif
in receiving the award, which recognizes local organizations that have global reach and connect
Columbus to the world.

Ross Austin, president of the council’s board of directors, said the Crew is “fundamentally
global” in its talent-sourcing and engagement of a diverse fan base, “something any organization —
sports or not — should aspire to replicate.”

The Crew specifically was recognized for its community efforts, helping build soccer fields and
cultivating awareness and growth of the game in the U.S. Men’s National Team victory over Mexico at
Crew Stadium in September. That World Cup qualifier focused world attention on Columbus. The team
is an important part of Columbus’ rich sports offerings, and a good community partner.